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European Space Agency (ESA) has been implementing, since 2019, the HydRON (High-thRoughput Optical Network) Project within the ESA ScyLight Strategic Programme Line. HydRON aims to build a network of high-capacity optical inter-satellite links and ground-satellite links that interconnect space assets with each other and with ground networks, and that seamlessly extends the terrestrial optical transport networks into space. Data repatriation from satellite and airborne users, feeder link communications to telecommunication satellite operators, high-capacity connectivity to remote private networks, and dynamic peering to terrestrial network operators are four high-level services that may be provided by HydRON. This paper presents the outcomes of the HydRON Vision Phase-A studies led by Airbus Defense and Space (Germany) and Thales Alenia Space (Italy), completed in 2021. These HydRON Vision Phase-A studies aimed at investigating end-to-end system architectures, and identify key elements of the system architecture such as optical ground-satellite links, high data rate WDMs for optical inter-satellite links, on-board switching and routing in optical and/or electrical domains, seamless integration into terrestrial networks, and control and management protocols. The results of the HydRON Vision from those Phase-A studies described in this paper provided the basis for the definition of the HydRON Demonstration System in the currently running Phase-A/B1 studies, which focus on the in-orbit demonstration of a subset of the key technological elements and the validation of the most relevant operational concepts.
Additional presentation content can be accessed on the supplemental content page.
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